Aha! Adventure - Spring Canoe Fiesta on the Churchill
5-day canoeing program for beginners to experienced paddlers

Location: Barker Lake, SK

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Dates: June 4-8, 2025

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Cost: $595 plus gst

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Refresh and develop your canoe skills to get ready for your canoe adventures this summer! We will help to develop your skills where you are at; for the beginner to experienced. You will join the appropriate group in the day, and then in the evening we will share our stories around the campfire. You will practice eddy turns and forward ferries to help you feel in control of your canoe so that you can put it where you want in the river when it counts!  It is the perfect program to celebrate the ice off and get ready for the canoe season.

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Most of our Aha! Adventure trips are "community catered".  All participants and guides take their turn providing and cooking breakfasts and suppers on the trips. Everyone looks after their own lunches and snacks. This is a fun way to share, try new meals and learn how to bake and cook in the backcountry. Instructors will help at every meal and give you lots of assistance! 

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Prerequisites:  No experience necessary. We plan to have a couple of groups to develop your skills and refresh them wherever you are at. We will take you from flatwater to whitewater paddling in the program.

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Cancellation Policy:  A $150 non-refundable deposit is required to register. The balance is due 15 days before the trip start date. No refunds on or after this date. We recommend trip cancellation insurance.

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Itinerary:

June 4: We will meet in Youth Farm Bible Camp (YFBC) at Rosthern, SK at 8am and travel together to the Devil Lake put-in (about 4 hours).  

Please pack a lunch for the drive from home or we can also stop in La Ronge for a bite to eat on our way through if you wish to purchase something. We will travel to Devil Lake and put on the water after lunch.  From there, we will paddle to Barker Lake and find a great campsite to stay for 4 nights.  We will focus on learning and refining our canoe strokes on the flatwater.

June 5-7: We will have lots of time for learning and practising eddy turns, forward ferries and work our way up the whitewater channels on the Churchill. We will enjoy different rapids such as Surf City, Corner Rapids and the Shelf.

June 8:  We will pack up and head back to our vehicles through one of the whitewater channels.  If the weather is favorable, we will end with running the famous Otter Rapids.  We will drive back to Rosthern and will stop for a quick bite to eat along the way.  We aim to be back in Rosthern around 6pm.

 

Cost Includes:

• Safety equipment (throwbags, first aid kit, emergency communication)

• Group camping gear (tarp/shelter etc.)

• Group cooking equipment (pots, stoves, utensils, fuel)

• Experienced and qualified guides

• All canoe gear (canoes, paddles, pfd's, helmets)

• Van transport from Rosthern

 

You need to provide:

• Your own lunches (4-5) and snacks and assigned group meals

• Wetsuit or drysuit- the water is cold in June and with learning you have a good chance of swimming during the course!

• Shell jacket/paddling jacket

• Neoprene booties or neoprene socks with sport sandals/running shoes

• Neoprene gloves

• Lots of layers and extra warm clothes

• Personal camping gear, tent

 

Transportation Details:

You are welcome to come in the van from Rosthern or you can meet us at Devil Lake and drive on your own.  If you are coming from a further distance, you are welcome to stay at the camp before or after the trip. Please contact Ang at ang@yfbc.ca for more details.

 

Medical Form and Waiver:

In order to participate in this course, you are required to sign your online registration. You will also need to fill out the online medical form.